(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Rafael Nadal secured his fifth and last year-end no. 1 honor in 2019. Rafa had an incredible season and became the oldest year-end no. 1 player at 33 before Novak Djokovic stole the record from him a year later. have a chance to fight for more year-end no.
1 honors, struggling with injuries and planning to wrap up his incredible career at some point in 2024
. Nadal failed to reach the semi-finals only two times in 2019, playing consistent tennis and leaving the opponents behind.
With two Major crowns under his belt, Nadal stood at 19 and came one behind Roger Federer. Rafa reached the semi-final at all four Majors for the first time since 2008 and secured an ATP title in the 16th consecutive season!
Missing the last part of 2018 due to a knee injury suffered in the semi-final of the US Open, Rafa had to delay the start of 2019. He withdrew from Brisbane with a thigh strain and made a return at the Australian Open. A champion in Melbourne from ten years ago, Rafa used a favorable draw to topple James Duckworth, Matthew Ebden, Alex de Minaur, Tomas Berdych and Frances Tiafoe in straight sets.
He advanced into the semi-final and took down Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the title match against Novak Djokovic. The Serb proved too strong at his favorite Major, delivering a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 triumph for the Spaniard’s worst Major final loss!
Returning a month later in Acapulco, Nadal squandered three match points against Nick Kyrgios in the second round, suffering another terrible defeat and heading to Indian Wells eager for a better run. After the quarter-final victory over Karen Khachanov in over two hours, Rafa withdraw ahead of the semi-final clash with Roger Federer due to a knee injury.
He skipped Miami and returned to his beloved clay in Monte Carlo. Fabio Fognini took down an 11-time champion 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 36 minutes in the quarter-final for another setback ahead of Barcelona.
Rafael Nadal secured his fifth and last year-end no.
1 honor in 2019.
Dominic Thiem bested Rafa 6-4, 6-4, fending off all break points and stealing Nadal’s serve once in each set to leave the legend empty-handed againNadal experienced the Madrid Masters semi-final to Stefanos Tsitsipas before conquering the Rome Masters and Roland Garros for a much-needed boost and 3000 ATP points.
Rafa ousted Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem to secure his 12th Roland Garros crown, winning his 18th Major and taking a well-deserved rest ahead of Wimbledon. Nadal lost only one set en route to the semi-final in London, seeking his first All England Club crown since 2010.
Nadal met his old rival Roger Federer in a battle for a place in the final and suffered a defeat in four sets, never meeting the Swiss again! In Montreal, the Spaniard defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 to lift his 35th Masters 1000 crown.
He stayed ahead of Novak Djokovic as the player with the most titles at that level before another strong run at the US Open. Nadal went all the way to lift his fourth crown in New York and the 19th Major, moving just one behind Federer.
Like in Montreal, Daniil Medvedev stood on the other side of the net in the title clash and fought like a lion. Daniil pushed Rafa to the limits for almost five hours, barely missing a chance for a complete comeback in Nadal’s 7-5, 6 -3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 triumph.
After one win at the Laver Cup, Rafa took more time off the court and skipped the Shanghai Masters with a left-hand injury. The Spaniard returned at the Paris Masters and moved into the semi-final for more crucial points in the year-end no.
1 battle with Novak Djokovic. Nadal gave Denis Shapovalov a walkover due to an abdominal injury, ruining his chances a bit ahead of the ATP Finals. Rafa could have made a better start in London, losing to Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
Rafa defeated Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas after a titanic battle in the next two encounters. Thus, he earned 400 ATP points but missed a chance to play in the semi-final as the first player with two wins in many years.
On the other side, Novak also failed to reach the semi-final, enough for Rafa to secure the year-end no. 1 honor for the fifth time. Heading back home to Madrid, Nadal was a player to beat at the Davis Cup Finals , clinching eight victories and leading Spain toward the Davis Cup crown.
Rafa wrapped up the season with another trophy at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after a memorable triumph over Stefanos Tsitsipas in over three hours.